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Our Dental Services

Dental exams: We recommend a dental checkup every six months. At each visit x-rays may or may not be taken depending on whether it is an initial exam, patient has a chief complaint, new findings or we may be monitoring the progress of a situation. More radiographs will usually be taken at an initial exam than recall exams. Once we get to realize each patient's needs and tendency for breakdown we can do follow up x-rays accordingly. Some people are very cavity prone and need more frequent x-rays than the patient who never gets a cavity. At the exam we look for any soft tissue abnormalities, cavities, broken or missing teeth, impacted teeth, malocclusions, etc. Once a complete exam is done the patient is informed of our findings. A proposed treatment plan is given of the best dentistry available, alternative treatment modalities, the cost and time involved.

Cleanings: A professional dental cleaning is recommended for most patients every 6 months. At that time we remove all stains, plaque and calculus (tartar) that can cause inflamed gums, bleeding, bone loss and bad breath. Studies have shown a direct correlation between oral health and cardiovascular health. Some patients have a tendency for tartar buildup and staining and in some of these cases we are actually recommending a cleaning every 3 months. The main reason for these cleanings is to prevent periodontal disease, which left unchecked can lead to tooth loss. Periodontium refers to all the soft and hard tissue that holds the tooth firmly in place, which includes gums, bone and ligaments attaching the roots to the surrounding bone. Although genetics does play a role, local factors are the main culprit in periodontal breakdown. Everyone has plaque, that filmy white substance that coats the teeth. Calcified plaque is called calculus or tartar. In the plaque are millions of bacteria, which release acidic toxins causing cavities and gum inflammation. At the earliest stages of periodontal disease the gums are red, swollen, tender and bleed easily. This is totally reversible with a good cleaning followed by proper home care, which involves brushing and flossing. If left unchecked this gingivitis will progress to periodontitis. This involves bone loss to varying degrees resulting in pocketing. Pocketing is the difference between the gums and the underlying bone and is measured in millimeters. A normal reading is anywhere between 1-3 mms, 4 plus signifies some degree of disease. Regular cleanings eliminate plaque and tartar. Sometimes the pockets are not too severe and can be managed by frequent debridements: scaling, root planning and polishing. Sometimes the problems can only be eliminated surgically.

Dental Fillings: Most people are aware of what a cavity is all about. After doing a dental exam the most frequently asked question is "do I have any cavities?" A filling is an artificial replacement to replicate tooth structure lost by cavity or trauma. For smaller restorations we use composite resins that look exactly like the missing tooth structure. These materials are bonded to the remaining tooth to create a better seal and decrease sensitivity .For more extensive tooth loss we use crowns and veneers.

We mention bonding a lot in many of our procedures. All white fillings, veneers, CEREC restorations and some crowns are bonded into place. This is in contrast to cementing crowns and onlays. In cementation placement we are relying on the retentive factors built into the restoration and the adhesive properties of the cement. With bonding we are relying on a chemical adhesion of restoration to the underlying tooth structure. The tooth structure is treated with a mild acid, which create a chalky surface. An application of a liquid unfilled resin then soaks into these microscopic porosities to which a thicker quartz filled resin easily adheres.

Crowns; A crown (cap) is a restoration that completely surrounds and protects a tooth. It is used when there is an extensive filling, tooth fractures, on top of an implant, for esthetics, following a root canal procedure or to anchor a fixed bridge. A bridge is a tooth replacement where teeth adjacent to a missing tooth are covered by crowns with a replacement soldered in between. The cover is porcelain or zirconia and looks exactly like the tooth or teeth being replaced. It is an indirect technique. The tooth is prepared by the dentist, an impression taken and sent to a commercial dental laboratory for crown fabrication. The dentist at the first appointment places a temporary crown. The new crown is inserted in the second appointment.

We use Carestream Technology to take impressions. This cut edge technology allows us to take and send impressions to the dental laboratory instantly so that the lab can view the images while the patient is still in the chair. We meet our patient's expectations for high quality outcome with minimal appointments.

BENEFITS OF USING CARESTREAM

• No messy impressions.
• Great for claustrophobic patients
• Very accurate
• Less appointments
• No pollution-no used trays

Implants are the best long term solution to missing teeth. Properly cared for, implants can last the rest of your life.
Dental implants are virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth in both aesthetics and function. Implants are actually artificial roots made of titanium which supports a crown, a fixed bridge or an overlying denture.
Impants help in preserving bone (by process of fusing with bone - OSSCOINTEGRATION) and hence helps preserve
your appearance and your confidence.

In our office we do the restoration with crowns once the implants are placed by surgeons and passes the healing period.